The first episode of From Education to Finance (E2F) is a great conversation with Andrew Hebden, Head of Public & Stakeholder Engagement at the Bank of England - and a reminder that the future of the sector will not be shaped only by policy or markets, but by people: the young, the curious, the uncertain, and the often‑overlooked.

Few institutions carry the symbolic weight of the Bank of England. Fewer still face the dual challenge of safeguarding monetary stability while earning public trust in an era defined by fragmentation, scepticism, and rapid technological change. For Andrew Hebden, who leads education, outreach, stakeholder engagement and the Bank’s museum within the Communications Directorate, this challenge is not abstract. It is the work of every day - and it sits at the heart of how the next generation understands finance, economics, and their own place within it.

A Career Built on Curiosity, Communication, and Unexpected Turns

Andrew’s path into central banking is anything but linear - and that is precisely what makes it so relevant to young people today. He grew up in Yorkshire, fell in love with journalism at 16, and spent more than a decade in regional newsrooms, eventually becoming deputy editor of the Journal and Chronicle titles in Newcastle. He edited the Durham student newspaper, trained in Sheffield, and built a career grounded in storytelling, community, and the discipline of asking good questions.

“I didn’t expect to be working in the financial sector,” he says. “I’m a words person. Most people at the Bank love a spreadsheet - I can barely open Excel.” It was a chance conversation, a strong network, and the transferability of communication skills that opened the door to the Bank of England. What followed was a shift into an economist‑representative role in the North East - a reminder that careers rarely unfold in straight lines, and that the skills young people underestimate are often the ones that carry them furthest.

Awareness, Understanding, Trust: The Bank’s Public Mission

Andrew’s team sits at the intersection of education, public engagement, and institutional trust - a space that has never been more important. Their work spans teacher‑training programmes, school outreach, stakeholder engagement, the Bank’s museum, and new formats such as podcasts and books designed to reach audiences who may never have considered economics relevant to their lives.

“Our goal is to build public awareness of what the Bank does… and then hopefully trust,” he explains. In a world where trust in institutions is under pressure and the media landscape is increasingly fragmented, the Bank’s responsibility is not only to act, but to explain. The mission is simple: if people understand how the economy works, they can make better decisions - and the Bank can serve them more effectively.

Demystifying Finance - One Classroom at a Time

Andrew is candid about the reality of school outreach. “Eighty percent of the audience might glaze over,” he says with a smile. “But if one kid thinks, ‘This is interesting,’ then it’s worth it.” That single spark matters. Because for many young people, finance feels distant, opaque, or “not for people like me.”

The Bank’s education strategy is built around three pillars: financial education, economics education, and careers and progression. It is the third pillar - careers - that often has the most transformative impact. Particularly in regions like the North East, where the City of London can feel 300 miles and several worlds away, the simple act of showing students that the Bank of England is not an abstract institution but an employer with real people and real pathways can be powerful.

Andrew regularly visits schools in Ashington, Blyth, and across Northumberland, helping students understand not only what the Bank does, but how they might one day contribute to it. And crucially, he emphasises that finance is not just in the City. There are opportunities in Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester and beyond - a message that resonates deeply with students who have never seen themselves reflected in traditional narratives of the sector.

The Perception Problem: Who Is Finance For?

One of the most striking parts of the conversation is Andrew’s honesty about the barriers young people face. There is a perception issue - a sense that finance is exclusive, intimidating, or only for those with the “right” background. There is a social mobility issue - access to work experience, networks, and early exposure is unevenly distributed. And there is a representation issue - particularly in economics, where the Bank’s own research shows the field remains male‑dominated, London‑centric, and heavily skewed toward selective and private schools.

“These challenges aren’t just about economics,” he notes. “They apply across the whole sector.” The Bank has responded by opening its work‑experience programmes, partnering with social‑mobility charities, and delivering virtual opportunities to reduce geographic barriers. But Andrew is clear: the sector as a whole must do more to challenge outdated perceptions and widen access.

The Skills That Matter Most

For all the focus on numeracy, Andrew believes the most undervalued skills in finance are human ones. “Communication, teamwork, being able to hold a conversation - these are absolutely essential,” he says. They are also the skills that helped him build a career at the Bank despite not being “a numbers person.”

It is a powerful message for young people who may feel excluded because they don’t fit the stereotype of a financial professional. And it is a reminder to employers that diversity of background, experience, and perspective is not a “nice to have” - it is a strategic advantage.

A Sector That Needs New Voices

What emerges most clearly from Andrew’s story is optimism. Young people want to understand money. They want to understand the economy. They want to make informed decisions. The challenge - and the opportunity - is to meet them where they are, speak in language they understand, and show them that finance is not a closed world, but a broad ecosystem with room for many kinds of talent.

The Bank of England cannot solve the sector’s challenges alone. But through education, outreach, and a commitment to demystifying its work, it is helping to open doors that once felt firmly shut.

A Final Reflection: Trust Begins with Understanding

Andrew Hebden’s story is a reminder that trust is not built through statements or campaigns - it is built through clarity, openness, and human connection. His work at the Bank of England shows how education can bridge the gap between institutions and the public, and how a single conversation can change a young person’s sense of what is possible.

In launching From Education to Finance, there could be no more fitting first guest. He embodies the series’ purpose: to illuminate pathways, challenge perceptions, and help the next generation see themselves in a sector that needs their curiosity, their diversity, and their voice.

To find out more about the E2F video podcast and get involved contact: oliharrison@financialmarketinginsights.com